THEN & NOW

Only a car person would understand, but for the enthusiast, automobiles define events of our past. The passage of time allows you to forget the troubling frustrations of the period, and the vehicle, along with all of the reasons as to why you were glad to grow-up, and why you sold the car involved. As the details fog with time, milestones of your past are etched in your memory based on the GTO, the Mustang or the VW that you were driving at the time. These are nostalgic memories just like in the movies; romantic auto events in your life like your first kiss at the drive-in, your first road trip, or your first flat tire. For the car nut, as important as whom you were with and what you did is what you were driving. High school reunions take care of what happened to the “whom”, but did you ever wonder what happened to the “what” you were driving?

There is now a Web site designed to find that lost love that got away or at least for the car. If you ever had sellers’ remorse, check out THE LOST CAR REGISTRY at http://www.lost-car-registry.com/main.html. The site was created by Keith Ingersoll of Michigan who never got over the selling of his father's Mach I. The Registry lists cars and trucks in both “Found” and “Lost” categories with the hope of helping those in search of lost loves (or their past). Most vehicles listed are the traditional muscle cars of the 60’s and 70’s, some are just plain cars. I gave my past cars a try.

Unfortunately, my auto heritage does not quite live up to the romance of the cars in American Graffiti or Steve McQueen’s Mustang in Bullitt. As a result, THE LOST CAR REGISTRY does not list my 1959 or 1971 VW Bugs (my first two cars, long ago disintegrated by rust). There are no 1974 Dodge Colts, a car that was guaranteed to require three turnover attempts for it to start, regardless of the time of year. My 1982 Mazda RX7 might qualify for The Registry, but it does not show because the engine blew on my brother-in-law. Good thing I had sold it. How about my 1989 Thunderbird? Nope! My 1998 Honda Accord? Who would care! It seems that these do not show because they were not really lost loves, maybe they were just cars. Maybe we need to separate fantasy from reality.

The past may seem to have been a better time, and that car was the best that you ever owned, but there was a reason that you sold it. Remember, those romantic cars of yesteryear wallowed as they drove, they smelled of exhaust, their muffler and exhaust systems had to be replaced regularly, they needed constant tune-ups, they stalled, they hesitated, and after you gave them your best years (and dollars), they rusted and/or died on you.

In reality, the best cars of our lives are actually the ones that we are driving right now. The stainless steel exhaust systems last for the life of the car, the onboard computers keep all of their systems running smoothly regardless of the weather and driving conditions, the tires have never been safer, nor have they provided a smoother ride. A live span of well over 100,000 miles is now expected for a car. I say enjoy the state-of-the art technology, luxury and reliability of the cars of today. Keep the cars of the past for a fond memory and an occasional visit to a vintage auto show. Move on to your next car and stage in your life. I wonder if my Scion TC will ever make the Registry?

UNNECESSARY NECESSITIES

I have always thought that there are a lot of little things included in cars and trucks these days that are not really necessary. Many small items that add up, increasing the purchase price of the vehicle for no real reason, or so I thought. They are unnecessary until you end up needing them, then they become necessities i.e. “unnecessary necessities”. I have come across several of these lately and have now softened my attitude towards them. Some even to the point that I now can not live without them.


QUICK, which side of your car is the gas cap on? Now, how about your spouse’s car? How about your company’s car? What about the rental car you had in Florida? You had to stop and think for a second, right? Of course, you have a 50-50% chance of guessing it correctly, but when you are waiting in line at the gas pump, it is not all that convenient or comfortable to guess wrong.

The answer is as simple as looking at your dashboard’s display. My recent unscientific study has determined that most new cars and trucks have an icon placed in front of you designating on which side you should fill. Look closely at the fuel icon and see what it shows. My Scion has the traditional gas station tank with hose, but with a small arrow next to it pointing to the left. I fill my gas on the left. My Windstar van also has an arrow to the left. It fills on the left. Some have the hose pointing in the direction of the fill. Check out your dash and see what it shows. A seemingly unnecessary item, but it sure is handy when you are in a strange car, or you just plain do not remember.

Another unnecessary necessity is the interior passenger assist handles, overhead, just inside the vehicle’s doors. I have had several cars with these and have never touched them. Unnecessary! Recently I was visiting my mother who is a spry 89 year old that likes to ride when we visit. While she is active, it is difficult for her to enter and exit a vehicle. Every time that she got in and out of our Ford Windstar van, she asked, “Where is the handle? Why isn’t there a handle? You need a handle.” Suddenly a handle became necessary. Now, every time that I look at the handle in my car, I think that it may be unnecessary now, but someday…a necessity.

The cigarette lighter of yesterday has now been replaced by the “utility outlet”. While not a smoker, I always accepted the potential need for one, but just one. Our van has three: one in the traditional lighter location, another just around the corner by the passenger, and a third way back behind the third passenger row. When I bought the van I remember thinking, “When would I ever need three DC power outlets. It is unnecessary.” Wrong! My family has now grown into a three utility outlet family, and I am certain that we really could use more thank you. We now need DC power for the GPS, the portable DVD player, the charger for the cell phone, power for a CD player. I am sure that our list will continue to grow. The utility outlets are now a necessity.

The list of “unnecessary necessities” could go on and on:

• A thermometer inside the car reading the external temperature, a nicety that can be a necessity if you are just on the edge of 32 degrees and wonder if the roads are beginning to freeze.
• How many cup holders does a family need? The kids complain if they do not have several of their own.
• How many vanity mirrors are really necessary? My wife wants them handy, and at several angles.
• Interior lights: there are front and rear dome lights, individual reading lights, floor lights and door lights. Unnecessary necessities.

How far we have come from the days when I drove my father’s simple 1959 VW where you just started the engine and drove. There was one dome light, uncomfortable seats and no fuel gauge. Finding the gas cap was not an issue since it was always easily found inside, under the front hood. That car had very few “unnecessary necessities”, but it also only cost $1995, new. Engineers are now designing radar guidance systems for the cars of the future where the driver becomes the unnecessary necessity. How far we have come!